Not all real estate agents are created equal and in today's market, it's even more important that agents go the extra mile on behalf of home sellers and buyers. So how can consumers know they're getting a good agent? Well here are six signs of an agent that's not quite putting in 100% of effort.
#1. No advice given.
Even homeowners that have been through a real estate transaction dozens of times still need a little bit of advice from their agent is now and then. If an agent is not offering any advice and really has no idea what's going on, it could be an indication that they are not fully engaged in the process. Some agents only work real estate part-time and actually have another full-time job. This may mean difficulties in getting a hold of them and just not enough interest in the transaction.
#2. Part-time job.
As I just mentioned before, many agents only do this on the side so their interest is usually grounded elsewhere. This means that if you need to see a house when they are working there "full-time job", you may have to wait, which means that you could be out of luck and lose the house that you really want. I understand that everybody has to start somewhere, but by putting in 100% effort, agents can get there pretty quickly.
#3. Only interested in listings in the brokerage.
A real estate agent that only shows buyers properties that are listed with their brokerage, could be losing out on the clients best interests. If they are only showing listings that they sell or have an affiliate with, they are not doing their due diligence and fiduciary duty by finding you the right house, regardless of where it is listed.
#4. Insists on affiliates.
If your real estate agent is insisting that you must use a particular lender, appraisal company, or an inspection company, that's a huge red flag that usually means they're getting a kickback from those services. You should be able to use whomever you want throughout the transaction and a good agent will offer advice and suggestions, rather than insist on a particular service.
#5. Poor communication.
The one thing that most consumers want in a real estate transaction is communication. They want to know what's going on, timelines, and feel comfortable and at ease with the entire process. Agents that are difficult to get a hold of, not calling you back, or just have no communication skills, are a big red flag that this is not the agent for you.
Related: I haven't heard from my agent or lender since the inspection!
Our job is to find the best home for our buyers or sell the home for top price and do so in an honorable and ethical manner. If there are too many red flags, it may be time to find a new agent.
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